| 100% | PROSPECT | 8 | An athlete who's expected to succeed soon |
| 48% | TEEN | 4 | Kid who's soon to be an adult |
| 47% | TOPSEED | 7 | Athlete who is expected to win a tournament: 2 wds. |
| 44% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who is likely to have an agent |
| 42% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who's not an amateur |
| 42% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who's no longer an amateur |
| 42% | AMATEUR | 7 | Athlete who's not paid to play |
| 42% | MESSIAH | 7 | One who's expected to deliver? |
| 42% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who's paid to play |
| 41% | HYDRATED | 8 | Like an athlete who's replenished their fluids with Gatorade |
| 40% | SEMIPRO | 7 | Like an athlete who's not quite amateur, not quite full-time |
| 39% | IMHIM | 5 | Slangy statement from an athlete who knows he's the best |
| 39% | HEIR | 4 | One who's bound to succeed? |
| 38% | TWEEN | 5 | Kid who's soon to hit puberty |
| 37% | HEIR | 4 | ___ apparent (person who's expected to eventually take power) |
| 37% | OLYMPIAN | 8 | An athlete who has competed in the Olympic Games |
| 36% | PRO | 3 | Like an athlete who gets paid, for short |
| 36% | DAWES | 5 | American gymnast Dominique who was the first Black athlete to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics |
| 36% | PRO | 3 | Athlete who isn't an amateur |
| 35% | SECOND | 6 | Position of an athlete who wins a silver medal |
| 35% | DUE | 3 | Expected to have a baby soon, say |
| 35% | SERVICELIST | 11 | Ones to whom an organization's messages are sent |
| 35% | BOWLER | 6 | Athlete who tries to knock down tenpins |
| 35% | AMATEURS | 8 | Athletes who aren't paid to play |
| 35% | INCOMING | 8 | Succeeding, soon to take office |
| 35% | DANICA | 6 | Patrick who's the only woman to win an IndyCar Series race |
| 35% | REF | 3 | Official who's similar to an umpire, for short |
| 35% | ASHE | 4 | Athlete who wrote "A Hard Road to Glory" |
| 35% | PROBOWLER | 9 | Athlete who brings their own ball to competitions |
| 35% | AGASSI | 6 | Athlete who boycotted Wimbledon from 1988 to 1990 |